ARCHEPARCHY LEADS LITURGICAL PRAYER AT ANNUAL CONVENTION
June 2, 2019
ARCHEPARCHY LEADS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 2019 MANITOBA STATE CONVENTION IN PRAYER
Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak and clergy from the Archeparchy of Winnipeg led the prayer events at the annual Knights of Columbus Convention May 31 - June 2, 2019. It was the third year in a row that the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy has been responsible for the liturgical program at the Convention. The practice is that each of the three Archiepiscopal jurisdictions based in Winnipeg provides the State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in Manitoba for a three-year term. Each 'Council' has its own local Chaplain (very often the Parish Priest graciously served in this role) and each 'Assembly' also has a chaplain (known as the "Friar"). However, there is also a chaplain appointed to serve at the "state" or provincial level. He works with the State Council of Officers and is ideally available to the all councils as his pastoral responsibilities permit. For the last three years, Fr. Michael Kwiatkowski, Pastor of Holy Eucharist Parish in Winnipeg's East Kildonan, has served as Manitoba's "State Chaplain". The local Archbishop, in this case Metropolitan Lawrence, serves as the "Honorary State Chaplain". Now the chaplaincy is passed to the Archdiocese of Winnipeg. In due time, a chaplain for the State Council will be appointed from among the clergy of the Archdiocese.
At the Convention, that was held at the Polo Park Canad-Inns Event Centre and Hotel, Metropolitan Lawrence led the Divine Liturgy together with other clergy and Brother Knights from the Archeparchy. Among the clergy were Monsignor Michael Buyachok (Cathedral), Fr. Michael Kwiatkowski (Chancellor), Subdeacon Walter Dudych (Beausejour) and Subdeacon Anton Sloboda (Holy Eucharist Parish). Assisting at the Liturgies were Brother John Solomon (St Basil Parish); Brother Bill Cox (St Anne Parish) and Brother David Hrehirchuk (Cantor, Holy Eucharist Parish) and Brother Karl Brosch (Sts Peter and Paul Parish) read the Epistle readings. Most Rev. Reynald Rouleau (Bishop-emeritus of Churchill) also concelebrated at the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Archbishop Albert LeGatt (Saint-Boniface Archdiocese) and Archbishop Richard Gagnon (Winnipeg Archdiocese) attended various events during the Convention also offering greetings and prayers.
The Divine Liturgies were especially inspirational as the whole assembly of the Knight-delegates and their Wives - and some with their families - joined in the responses and singing as though they all had years of experience. Well, to be fair, probably most have had some experience. It would be hard to imagine any citizen of Manitoba - especially a Knight or his family - that has not experienced some Ukrainian Catholic liturgical event... be it a wedding, a funeral or a Divine Liturgy for some anniversary or other event. There were also a good number of members of the Archeparchy that attended as Knights of one of several Ukrainian Councils, where possible, or as faithful members of other councils throughout the province.
There is so much that can and will be written about this year's Convention. To read more, please check out Manitoba State Council's ALL NEW website by clicking [HERE]
